You know you’re approaching London’s best design show when EC1 (Clerkenwell) is filled with pink signs and banners. Clerkenwell has the worlds highest number of design showrooms and architects than anywhere else in the world, so where better to host London’s favorite and most popular design festival? It’s 3 days of current design in the center of London between Farringdon and Barbican, this year held from the 21st – 23rd May 2013. The festival is now in its fourth year with four main venues to match. Many of the local showrooms also get involved, fully taking over the area with design-mad and very cool folk.
Once you have registered you can collect your free pass from the Farmiloe Building on St John Street. This is the main venue, hosting over 80 exhibitors in what used to be an old Victorian meat factory.
Other venues include the Order of St John, where you can find amazing design deep in the depths of the church’s crypt and take some relaxing time out in the garden, and also the House of Detention and a covered tent. The House of Detention is a disused Victorian prison where exhibitors have a cell to display their work in what I believe is the coolest venue. The covered area is host to many fringe participants, although I don’t really think it matched CDW’s cool edge. I wasn’t a huge fan.
What I did like though were the neat little guides which contained information on the exhibitors and showrooms, in addition to a map of the area. It was good to see it was made alongside Icon magazine – one of my favorite design mags.
Clerkenwell Design Week was once again sponsored by Jaguar. Last year there was a clay car and clay modeller in place of this metal structure, which has left me distinctly underwhelmed this year.
I liked this Artemide and Issey Miyake light I found in the Farmiloe building. Part of the IN-EI lighting series, this looks like a beautiful origami flower, waiting to be unravelled to reveal the glow from within. Definite simple elegance.
These lights are Foscarini’s ‘Evolution’ project, hanging from the rafters of the Farmiloe Building.
I’m such a fan of these Plumen lightbulbs. They are the first designer lightbulb which are also energy efficient. At 60 watts each, these are likely to last around 8 years, or 8,000 hours. Better yet, they come in 2 sizes and can be purchased from under £20.
I spotted Bethan Gray’s brogue coffee tables upstairs in the Farmiloe. I did see them last year at CDW but I think they look better and cleaner this year. And they’ll only set you back £895. I’ll take 3…!
I’m a massive fan of lights. I light these hanging globes by Swedese because I think they look incredibly elegant.
Possibly one of the more colourful editions to this year’s CDW were coffee tables by James Burleigh. They’re simple, sleek and elegant, and I can’t wait until I have the space to host a table like this.
Johnson Tiles again show an array of colourful tiles in the Farmiloe building. I like how the lights from behind cast detailed silhouettes and shadows.
I spotted these small 3D printed mini furniture in the shed next to the Farmiloe Building. They are minis of dareStudio’s range, which, truth be told, can’t compete with the real things. One thing I would say about dareStudio is how incredibly smooth and well-finished the furniture is. It’d definitely got the ‘touchable’ factor.
I found this Ochre chandelier in the Order of St John, comprised of small glass pebbles and LEDs. This thing must’ve been 6 foot long. It really is lovely and very grand too.
Sharon Marston had created a Willow Installation, complete with golden ribbons and fiber optic lights, forming a gazebo-style installation in the entrance of the Order of St John. I prefer to think of it as an arched entrance into a fairytale, and was very taken with this unusual and extremely tangible design.
The garden of the Order of St John took a luxurious approach to outside furniture with a range from Cane-Line. These waterproof seats, complete with cushions, are very comfortable but also remain cool and stylish. Total win-win!
Little elements of Clerkenwell Design Week are dotted around the area, from giant pods to performers, so it wasn’t too shocking to find a colourful maze with transparent panels. It’s designed by Mobile Studio, and even on Day 1 of the festival, this colourful maze was covered in footprints. A great way to engage and interact with an audience.
Lastly, one of my favorite parts of the festival were the Buster + Punch hanging lightbulbs. Dim enough to see the filaments shining brightly from within, these can be turned into a cluster or used individually as a lighting solution. These lights are made even more attractive by the motorbike they are hovering above.
All in all I enjoyed this years Clerkenwell Design Week. There was a lot to see and do, and I’m looking forward to year 5.
